Indians say goodbye to Fultz; Lee named fifth starter

Andy Call

Monday

Mar 24, 2008 at 12:01 AMMar 24, 2008 at 12:38 PM

One Indians pitcher cost himself a job this spring. Another earned one. Cleveland cut ties with left-handed relief pitcher Aaron Fultz on Monday and named Cliff Lee the No. 5 starter in their pitching rotation. Lee beat out Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers, both optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

One Indians pitcher cost himself a job this spring. Another earned one.

Cleveland cut ties with left-handed relief pitcher Aaron Fultz on Monday and named Cliff Lee the No. 5 starter in their pitching rotation. Lee beat out Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers, both optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

“It’s been a gradual process all spring,” Lee said. “I felt like, every day down here, things were coming together. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep going in that direction.”

Lee cemented the fifth starter’s role with five scoreless innings Saturday against the New York Mets.

“He got better as the spring went along,” General Manager Mark Shapiro said. “I’m encouraged with where he’s headed. If he can continue to pitch as he can, he’s poised to have another year like he had the two years prior to last season,”

Lee won 18 games in 2005 and 14 in 2006, but struggled last summer and was sent to the minor leagues.

“When I got here, I was anxious to prove myself again,” Lee said. “Having a bad year gives you a little extra motivation going into the offseason. If I can pitch the way I can, I should have the same results as in the past.”

Lee will pitch Thursday against Tampa Bay in the final spring-training game in Florida. His next start would be April 1 for Single-A Kinston in an exhibition against Mount Olive College (N.C.). Lee’s first start for the Indians would be April 6 at Oakland.

Shapiro said left-hander Craig Breslow, claimed off waivers Sunday, will be given the first chance to replace Fultz on the Opening Day roster. Breslow has 27 games of big-league experience with San Diego in 2005 and Boston in 2006.

The other alternative to Breslow would be one of the two losers in the three-way battle for a bullpen spot involving right-handers Jorge Julio, Tom Mastny and Scott Elarton. Julio, the former Baltimore closer, is the favorite to be named to that spot when the final Opening Day roster is announced.

Fultz has struggled all spring. The 34-year-old reliever has appeared in seven games this spring, allowing 11 earned runs and a .390 opponent’s batting average in 8 1/3 innings (11.88 ERA). He appeared in 49 games last year (4-3, 292 ERA). Left-handed batters hit .191 against him.

“Prior to his injury last year, he was very effective,” Shapiro said of Fultz, who strained a muscle in his ribcage and was on the disabled list from June 24 to Aug. 1. “He was never really able to get back to form after that.”

Fultz will either be released immediately or designated for assignment. The latter option gives the Indians 10 days to trade him, release him or send him to the minor leagues. The Indians, who picked up Fultz’s 2008 option over the winter, will have to pay his $1.5 million salary.